Buttonhole-sewing machine.



No. 767,480. PATENTED AUG. 16, 1904.

' J. T. HOGAN.

BUTTONHOLE-SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

\NVENTOR PATENTED AUG. 16, 1904.

J; T. HOGAN; BUTTONHOLB SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

INVENTOR 15 ATTORNEYS UNITED Srnrns Patented August 16, 1904,

PATENT Orricn.

JAMES T. HOGAN, OF JERSEY CITY, NEIV JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE NATIONAL MACHINE COMPANY, OF HAMARONECK, NEIV YORK, A

CORPORATION OF NEIV YORK.

BUTTONHOLE-SEWING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 767,480, dated August 16, 1904.

Application filed February 24, 1904. Serial No. 195,027. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES T. HOGAN, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Jersey City, county of Hudson, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Buttonhole-Sewing Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

IO My invention relates to buttonhole-sewing machines, and particularly to machines for sewing round-end or eyelet-end buttonholes.

My invention consists in the combination, with stitch-forming mechanism including a verticallyreciprocating and laterally-vibrating needle-bar, of a vibrating member having a uniform extent of vibration throughout, movement transmitting means connecting said vibrating member with said needle-bar,

and means for varying the point of connection of said movement-transmitting means with said vibrating member, whereby the field or location of the lateral movements of said needle-bar are varied without necessary variation of the amplitude of said movements.

The main object of my invention is to simplify the mechanism of machines of this type, so that the parts may be run at a very high rate of speed without injury thereto or detriment to the work performed.

In my present invention I use but a single cam for shifting the field of the vibratory or jogging movements of the needle around the end of the buttonhole and from one side thereof to the other, and the inclines of this cam are gradual, so that no sudden movements are made such as would cause shock or jar to the mechanism. I am enabled to use but a single cam of this character by the employment of 4 a vibratory member having a uniform extent of vibration throughout and carrying means by which the pitman connecting the vibrating needle-bar thereto may be adjusted to various positions thereon without necessary variation thereby of amplitude of the laterally-vibrating or jogging movements transmitted.

My invention further consists in an improved construction and arrangement of parts permitting proportionate adjustment upon opposite sides of a central line through the buttonhole of the lateral stitching or field of lateral vibrations of the needle with respect to the said central line and in other novel details of construction and combination of parts, as will hereinafter appear.

I will now proceed to describe a machine embodying my invention and will then point out the novel features in claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a buttonhole-sewing machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail view, in horizontal section, of certain portions of the mechanism for controlling lateral movements of the needle-bar, the plane of section being substantially upon the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail view in perspective of a patterncam employed when stitching round-end buttonholes. Fig. I is a diagrammatic view of a round-end buttonhole. Fig. 5 is a detail View in perspective of a pattern-cam employed when 7 stitching eyelet-end buttonholes. Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of an eyelet-end buttonhole.

\ The machine illustrated in the drawings comprises the usual bed 1, .overhanging arm 2, and front head 3. A work-clamp 4 receives the work and presents same for stitching and is reciprocated longitudinally with respect to the buttonhole being stitched by any suitable or well-l nown feed mechanism.

The stitch-forming mechanism includes a vertically-reciprocating and laterally-vibrating needle-bar 5, such as is commonly employed in machines of this type. The needlebar is mounted to reciprocate in a laterally- 8 5 vibrating gate, one end, 6, of which appears in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and apitman or connecting-rod 7, constituting a movement-transmitting means, is connected at one end to the said vibrating gate and at the other end en- 9 gages a vibrating member 8.

The vibrating member 8 in the present form of my invention comprises a sliding plate mounted between and guided by horizontal guides 9, whereby rectilinear movements thereof only are permitted and all portions thereof will move at all times uniformly. The l clines will cause the stitching to take place characteristic feature of the movement of i gradually and progressively round the ends of this member is its parallel vibration as distinguished from rotary vibration about a lixed axis. In the former case all points in the member move UHi'fOl'll'll) and to a uniform extent, while in the latter all points of differ ent radius move different distances. The terms parallel y'iln'ation and parallel movement used herein are hence used to define a movement in which any one position of the part moving is substantially parallel with any other position thereof. The said member is connected, by means of a link 10, with the usual vibrating lever 11, itself connected to and receiving its movements of vibration from the ordinary operating-cam 12. The vibrating lever has a fixed path of vibration, and the usual adjustment of the link 10 therewith is provided, whereby a greater or less amplitude of vibration may be given to the vibrating member 8, as may be predetermined.

The point of engagement of the pitman or connecting-rod 7 with the vibrating member 8 is arranged to be varied, whereby the position of the lateral vibrations imparted to the needle-bar may be varied,while the amplitude of such vibrations remains unchanged. For this purpose a guiding element 13 is provided carried by the member 8 and rigidly fixed thereto during the normal operation of stitching a complete buttonhole. The guiding element has a guideway arranged at an angle to the plane of reciprocation of the needle-bar 5, and a stud or projection 14, with which the pitman 7 is provided, engages the said guideway, as shown. It will be readily seen that by moving the stud or projection 1 1 along the said guideway the point of connection of the pitman or connecting-rod 7 with respect to the vibrating element 8 will be varied laterally, and thereby corresponding lateral changes of position of the needle-bar 5 effected, and hence of the field of the stitching op erations.

The means for shifting the stud or projection 14 along the guideway comprises a pattern-cam 15, a follower 16, and lever 17, carrying same, said lever fulcrumed at 18 to the bed 1 of the machine, and a connecting-rod 19, connecting the end of the lever 17 with the pitman T. A spring 20 serves to hold the follower 16 against the face of the cam .15 with a yielding pressure.

The shape of the cam 15 will determine the movements of the stud or projection 14: along the guideway, and hence the field of the stitching operations. When it is desired to stitch a round-end buttonhole, such as is shown in Fig. 4. of the drawings, the cam will have two dead portions on different planes and gradual incline connecting them. One of the dead portions will cause the stitching to take place on one side of the buttonhole and the other on the other side thereof, while the gradual inthe buttonhole as the needle-bar is gradually moved from one side of the buttonhole to the other. It will also be clear that while the shifting movements imparted by the cam 15, as above described, are taking place lateral vibrating movements are being simultaneously imparted to the needle-bar by reason of the movements of the vibrating member to produce over-seaming-stitches, as is usual, and the amplitude of these lateral vibrations is in no way affected by the changes of position of the connection of the pitman with the said vibratingmember. The upper end of the rod 19 will of course partake of the lateral movements of the slide 8, and such movements will be permitted freely by reason of the pivotal connection between the lower end of the said rod and the outer end of the lever 17. The bed 1 of the machine is suitably apertured to permit such lateral movements, and it will be understood that while the upper end of the rod 19 will actually travel in an are described with the axis of the connection between the lower end of the rod 19 and the outer end of the lever 17 as a center the movements are so small and the radius of the arc is so large that the point of contact of the antifriction-roller 14: with the walls of the guiding element will not be substantially varied except when the lever 17 is moved. up or down by action of the cam 15.

Eyelet-ended buttonholes may be stitched by changing the cam 15 to the form shown in Fig. 5, in which suitable depressions and projections are provided to properly guide the needle around the eyelet end of the buttonhole.

The cam 15 may be operated by any suitable mechanism, as by the well-known feed-plate 21 and connections, as shown and described in my former patent, No. 7 et1,34t0, of October 13, 1903.

In order to vary the location of the opposite side stitching of the buttonhole with respect to a central line passing longitudinally therethrough and without change of the cam 15 employed, I pivot the guiding element 13 upon the vibrating member 8 and provide a clamping-bolt 22, by which it may be secured in position, whereby it will remain relatively fixed during a stitching operation. By adjusting the position of this guiding clement prior to a stitching operation the relative position of the guideway upon the vibrating element 8 with respect to a line parallel with the plane of vertical movement of the needle-bar will be effected, whereby a given throw of the cam 15 will result in greater or less lateral movement imparted to the pitman 7, and hence to the needle-bar 5. The guiding element being pivoted at a point corresponding to the central line of the buttonhole i. (2., a point midway of the two extremes of position of the stud or projection 14:will in its adjustm nt always effect proportionate adjustment ot' the position of the stitching upon both sides of the central line of the buttonhole.

A machine constructed in accordance with my invention is so simple and has such few moving parts and the movements of all the parts are so gradual that extremely-high speeds are possible without undue shock to any of the parts or detriment to the work.

\Vhat I claim is 1. In a buttonhole-sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism including a vertically-reciprocating and laterally-vibrating needle-bar, of means for laterally vibrating the needle-bar and for shifting the field of such lateral vibratory movements gradually around the end of a buttonhol'e from one side to the other while the work is held stationary as to lateral movements, and without varying the amplitude of such lateral vibratory movements, said means comprising a vibrating member having a substantially uniform extent of vibration throughout, movement-transmitting means connecting; said vibrating member with said needle-bar, and means for varying the point of connection of said movement-transmitting means with said vibrating member.

2. In a buttonhole-sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism including a verticall v-reciprocating and laterally vibrating needle bar, a reciprocating member, means for reciprocating same, movementtransmitting means connecting said needle-bar with said member, and means for shifting the point of connection of said movement-transmitting means with said member, and means for guiding the movements of said member, arranged to cause all portions of said member during its reciprocation to have substantially the same amplitude of movement.

In a buttonhole-sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism including a vertically-reciprocating and laterally-vibrating needle-bar, of a laterally-vibrating operating member, means for so vibrating same, movement-transmitting means connecting said needle-bar with said vibrating member, and means for varying the point of connection of said movement-transmitting means with said operating member, without thereby varying the amplitude of vibration transmitted thereby.

l. In a buttonhole-sewing machine,the combination with stitch-forming mechanism including a vertically-reciprocating and laterally-vibrating needle-bar, of a laterally-vibrating operating member, arranged for parallel vibration, means for so vibrating same, movement transmitting means connecting said needle-bar with said vibrating member, and automatic means for laterally shifting the point of connection of said movement-transmitting means with said operating member.

5. Ina buttonhole-sewing machine,the combination with a verticallyreciprocating and laterally-vibrating needle-bar, of an operating member mounted for rectilinear reciprocation, means for imparting rectilinear reciprocation thereto, means connecting said needle-bar with said operating member, and automatic means for laterally shifting the point of engagement of said connecting means with said operating member, thereby varying the field of the lateral movements imparted through said connecting means.

6. In a buttonhole-sewing machine,the combination with stitch-forming mechanism including a vertically-reciprocating and laterally-vibrating needle-bar, of a reciprocating slide, means for imparting a substantially parallel movement of reciprocation thereto,move ment-transmitting means connecting said needle-bar with said slide, and means for shifting the point of connection of said movementtransmitting means with said slide whereby variations in position of the lateral movements of said needle-bar are effected without necessary variations in amplitude of movements thereof.

7. In a buttonhole-sewing machine,the combination with stitcl1forming mechanism, including a vertically-reciprocating and laterally-vibrating needle-bar, of an operating member for imparting such lateral movements thereto, said operating member capable of a substantially parallel movement, means for imparting such movements thereto, a pivoted guiding element mounted upon said operating member, and stationary thereon during normal operation of the machine, movement-. transmitting means connecting said needlebar with said guiding element, and means for shifting the point of engagement of said connecting means with said guiding element.

8. In a buttonhole-sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism, including a vertically-reciprocating and laterally-vibrating needle-bar, of a reciprocating slide for imparting such lateral movements thereto, means for reciprocating same, a pivoted guide carried by said slide and held stationary thereon at an oblique angle to the plane of vertical reciprocation of said needlebar, during normal operation of the machine, a pitman or connecting-rod connected at one end to the needle-bar and engaging the said guide at its other end, and means for varying the point of connection of the said pitman with the said slide substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In a buttonhole-sewin g machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism, including a vertically-reciprocating and laterally-vibrating needle-bar, of a reciprocating slide for imparting such lateral movements thereto, means for reciprocating same, a pivoted guide carried by said slide and held stationary thereon at an oblique angle to the plane of vertical reciprocation of said needlebar, during normal operation of the machine, means for manually adjusting the position of the guide about its pivot. a pitman. or connecting-rod connected at one end to the needle-bar and engaging the said guide at its other end, and means for varyingthe point of connection 01 the said pitman with the said slide substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

10. In a buttonhole-sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism, including a verticall v-reciprocating and laterally-vibrating needle-bar, of a reciprocating slide for imparting such lateral movements thereto, means for reciprocating same, a pivoted guide carried by said slide and held stationary thereon at an oblique angle to the plane of vertical reciprocation of said needlebar, during normal operation of the machine, a pitman or connecting-rod connected at one end to the needle-bar and engaging the said guide at its other end, and a cam, and connections therewith, for engaging said pitman and varying the point of connection thereof with the said slide, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

11. in a buttonhole-sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism, including a vertically-reciprocating and laterally-vibrating needle-bar, of a reciprocating slide 8, means for guiding the same through substantially parallel positions, means for reciprocating said slide, an adjustable guide 13 rigidly secured to and carried by said slide, a pitman 7 connected to the said needle-bar and engaging said guide, a rod 19 connected to the said pitman, and a cam 15 controlling movements of said rod 19.

12. In a buttonhole-sewing machine, the

combination with a Vertically-reciprocating and laterally-vibrating needle-bar, of an operating member mounted for rectilinear reciprocation, means for imparting rectilinear reciprocation thereto, means for manually adjusting the amplitude of such reciprocating movements, means connecting said needle-bar with said operating member, and means for shifting the point of engagement of said connecting means with said operating member.

13. In a buttonhole-sewing machine, the combination With a vertically-reciprocating and laterally-vibrating needle-bar, of an operating member mounted for rectilinear reciprocation, means for imparting rectilinear reciprocation thereto, means connecting said. needle-bar With said operating member, means for shifting the point of engagement of said connecting means with said operating member, and means for manually adjusting the degree of the lateral movement imparted to the said connecting means upon operation of said.

shifting means.

14. .In a buttonhole-sewing machine, the combination with a vertically-reciprocating and laterallvvibrating needle-bar, of an operating member mounted for rectilinear reciprocation, means for imparting rectilinear reciprocation thereto, means for manually ad.-

justing the amplitude of such reciprocatingv movements, means connecting said needle-bar with said operating member, means for shifting the point of engagement of said connecting means with said operating member, and means for manually adjusting the degree of the lateral movement imparted to the said connecting means upon operation of said shifting means.

JAMES T. HOGAN. lVitnesses:

G. F. OAnRINeToN, CHARLES J. JOHNSON. 

